The decision to ban athletic satellite camps has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, but another rule that recently passed will also have a big impact on the NCAA and recruiting.
Proposal 2015-52 will allow institutions to pay the actual round-trip costs for a prospective student-athlete's parents or legal guardians to accompany the prospect on his official visit and will be implemented August 1, 2016.
The vote passed 14-1 with only the Sun Belt Conference voting against it, according to the NCAA's Division I Council report.
The current rule allowed for only the prospect's travel and accommodations to be paid for and prohibited schools from paying for transportation costs incurred by relatives, friends or legal guardians. Under that rule, prospects were either taking official visits by themselves or parents, guardians or high school coaches were taking on the costs to accompany the recruit on the visit.
The new rule specifies the funds will be available for transportation and meals for the parents or guardians. Prospective student-athletes are permitted to take five official visits starting on the first day of classes of the prospective student-athlete's senior year, so this rule will be in place for the Class of 2017.